Motorized rack for a vehicle

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for a motorized rack having at least one motor, a plurality of attachment mechanisms, and lift mechanism coupled to the at least one motor. The motorized rack may be coupled to the back of a vehicle, provide for a mechanism to attach items, such as a bicycle, to the motorized rack, and will have at least one motor to raise and lower the attached items.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle rack comprising:
 a first lifting mechanism having a first wheel well;   a second lifting mechanism having a second wheel well;   a motor configured to change a height of the first lifting mechanism and/or second lifting mechanism;   at least one rack arm configured to support the first lifting mechanism and the second lifting mechanism; and   a yoke coupled to the wheel well.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle rack of  claim 1  further comprising a securement mechanism configured to secure a position of a bicycle wheel to the wheel well. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle rack of  claim 1  wherein the yoke is configured to rotate when the first lifting mechanism is raised or lowered by the second lifting mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle rack of  claim 3  wherein the yoke, when rotated, is configured to engage a frame of a bicycle. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle rack of  claim 1  wherein the yoke has a first prong and a second prong. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle rack of  claim 1  further comprising a first rear wheel well coupled to the rack arm. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle rack of  claim 1  further comprising a second rear wheel well coupled to the rack arm. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle rack of  claim 6  further comprising a first rear wheel securement mechanism coupled to the first rear wheel well. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle rack of  claim 7  further comprising a second rear wheel securement mechanism coupled to the second rear wheel well. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle rack of  claim 1  wherein a height of the first lifting mechanism is offset from a height of the second lifting mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . A vehicle rack for at least one bicycle, the vehicle rack comprising:
 a first lifting mechanism having a first wheel well;   a second lifting mechanism having a second wheel well;   a motor configured to change a height of the first lifting mechanism and/or second lifting mechanism;   at least one rack arm configured to support the first lifting mechanism and the second lifting mechanism;   a first rear wheel well and a second rear wheel well coupled to the rack arm; and   a yoke rotatably coupled to the wheel well,
 wherein the yoke has a first prong and a second prong, and 
 wherein the yoke is configured to engage a frame of the at least one bicycle. 
   
     
     
         12 . The vehicle rack of  claim 11  wherein a position of the first rear wheel well and the second rear wheel well is adjustable along a length of the at least one rack arm.